HC asks Baufal ASP, OC to appear Feb 27

The High Court yesterday questioned the legality of an incident of police torture on an accused -- Hafizur Rahman Bijoy -- in the office room of officer-in-charge of Baufal Police Station in Patuakhali on February 12.

It issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain as to why the alleged incident of torture on Hafizur should not be declared illegal and why they should not be ordered to compensate the tortured victim.

In the rule, the court also asked the authorities to show causes why appropriate legal action will not be taken against the police personnel who were involved in the incident.  

At the same time, the HC summoned assistant superintendent of police (ASP) of Baufal Circle Saiful Islam and OC of Baufal Police Station Azam Khan Faruki, directing them to appear before it on February 27 to explain their conduct over the incident of torture on Hafizur, Deputy Attorney General Tapas Kumar Biswas told The Daily Star.

The bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice Mohammad Ullah came up with the rule and order after hearing a writ petition filed by Hafizur's mother Josna Begum seeking necessary directives on the responsible police personnel.

She submitted the writ petition to the HC annexing a report published on the daily Janakantha on February 14 over the incident of police torture on Hafizur.

According to the report, the sub-inspector Ferdaus arrested Hafizur and brought him to the custody of Baufal Police Station on February 12 evening.

At midnight, Hafizur was brought to the office room of the OC and beaten with sticks, the report said, adding that OC Azam Khan was not in the office at that time.

OC Azam Khan told the newspaper that ASP Saiful Islam interrogated Hafizur at his (OC) office room but did not torture him.